The 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES CoP17) took place in Johannesburg, South Africa from 23 September to 4 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Center.

Attended by more than 3,000 participants from the around the world, the event has been hailed as the largest wildlife conference in CITES history. A platform for conservationists the world over on matters relating to all wildlife, the CITES Cop17 was hosted, organized, and administered by the CITES Secretariat in collaboration with the South African Department of Environmental Affairs.

The work of the African Elephant Fund (AEF) and the activities of the African Elephant Action Plan (AEAP) were exhibited during the conference. AEF branded materials and informational pamphlets were distributed, and a side event was held on 4 October 2016.

The AEF side event, The Elephant in the Room: A Coherent Approach to the Implementation of the African Elephant Action Plan centered on the activities of the African elephant range State projects funded by the AEF on their implementation on the AEAP. The event served as an arena to assess the impact of the AEAP on the management of elephant populations. It also set the stage for dialogue among participants for the development of strategic mechanisms to increase collaboration on the AEAP and meet targets set out in the Plan.

Thanks to distinguished panelists, the side event was a tremendous success with over 200 participants attending the 2 hour long session. The following individuals made that possible:

• Ms. Thea Carroll, Director of the Department of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria, South Africa
• Mr. Frank Barsch, Policy Officer, German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Safety
• Mr. Mamadou Kane, Head of International Environmental Governance Unit and Coordinator of the AEF, United Nations Environment-AEF Secretariat
• Mr. Patrick Omondi, Deputy Director of Kenya Wildlife Service, AEF Steering Committee Chair
• >Mr. Solomon Kyalo, CITES Management Division, Kenya Wildlife Service
• Mr. Paul Zyambo, Director of National Parks and Wildlife, Zambia
• Mr. Edward Chilufya, CITES Management Division, Zambia Wildlife Authority
• Mr. Bonaventure Ebayi, Director of Lusaka Agreement Task Force
• Mrs. Elizabeth Ehi-Ebewale, Head of Wildlife and CITES Management Division, Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Nigeria
• Mr. Chizamsoka Manda, Director, National Parks and Wildlife, Malawi

Outcomes of the side event include enhanced synergies through information-sharing and provision of technical expertise to enhance the priorities and strategies outlined in the AEAP. The CITES CoP17 was a crucial forum for participants to share their views on conservation strategies, implementation of wildlife management initiatives and wildlife protection and trade. Participants engaged with stakeholders and the general public on policies critical to wildlife protection. During the meetings, the AEF solidified its commitment to working to implement the AEAP. In doing so, the AEF will continue to support range States on projects for the conservation, restoration and protection of elephant populations in their African range. Elephants have a potential to provide ecological, socio-cultural and economic benefit, and AEF's vision is to ensure a secure future for African elephant populations and their habitats.

 

Pictures and video from the event can be found ere.